Keeping the Co-op at the Table

Co-op donation and local giving programs is sometimes not enough. In order for the cooperative to remain a central and key player in the local community it can sometimes mean getting involved in local government, planning committees, and more. These are the kinds of strategies employed by Liz Haywood, CEO of People’s Food Cooperative of LaCrosse and Rochester. Here Haywood calls co-ops out for being too passive overall in demanding a return on their investment in the communities they serve. Don’t be afraid to be a bit more “sharp-elbowed” in negotiating with partners to ensure that the co-ops’ mission and values aren’t taken advantage of.

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About the Cooperative Cafe

Co-op directors and their managers are often seeking meaningful ways to tackle questions about the future, build alignment, and take steps toward realizing the goals and vision of their cooperative. A direct path to meeting this objective is for boards, along with their general manager, to participate together in the Cooperative Cafes offered through the CBLD program. It gives co-op leadership an opportunity to work together as a group in a dynamic environment with people from other co-ops.

Each year the Cooperative Cafes will have a changing theme and will contain new content about how leaders can engage constituents and gain support in their communities for co-op growth and development.

For more information about the Cooperative Cafes and other CBLD events, please visit our website.

About CDS Consulting Co-op

CDS Consulting Co-op is a cooperative of consultants working together to support our clients' success in meeting their goals. We help clients develop the insight, skills and resources they need to make a positive impact in their communities as successful businesses and meaningful cooperatives.